Have you got the Titanic ‘T-Factor’?

Titanic Belfast is asking potential employees if they have the ‘Titanic T-Factor’ necessary to impress visitors when the attraction opens in March. As part of the recruitment drive for 250 overall positions, a unique ‘T-Factor’ Audition Day is being organised to help track down 70 front line staff who can promote Titanic and Northern Ireland to the world.

Candidates, who must pre-register to secure a slot, will be given a script in relation to one of the nine galleries in the visitor attraction, and will then be required to give a three-minute interpretative presentation to demonstrate their communication skills and passion for the project. Successful participants will then be asked back for a formal interview on a subsequent date. The Audition Day for prospective front-of-house employees will be held next Saturday (January 14th) at Grafton Recruitment’s Belfast headquarters in ‘The Boat’, Custom House Square.

Tim Husbands, CEO of Titanic Belfast, said: “Last Autumn almost 1,500 people attended a drop-in day at Belfast City Hall with over 850 expressing a definite interest in working at Titanic Belfast. “Such has been the interest that it’s been necessary to appoint an agency to assist in the company’s overall recruitment process. Grafton Recruitment will bring a track record of working throughout Northern Ireland and across disciplines to help us secure the right people.“We’re conscious that everyone working at Titanic Belfast will be an ambassador, not just for ourselves, but for Belfast and Northern Ireland as a whole. This is a unique project with unique potential to promote Belfast to the world, so we need people with that special Titanic ‘T-Factor’. The Audition Day will give prospective employees a chance to let their true personalities shine through.

“Titanic Belfast provides a great employment opportunity and we will continue to work hard with Belfast City Council and DEL to ensure that as many people as possible have access to the positions.”

When it opens next March Titanic Belfast will be one of the largest employers in the local tourism industry. It’s also expected to be one of the largest job recruiters in Northern Ireland during 2012.

Belfast City Council and the city’s partnership boards have already held a series of information days and a drop-in-day in City Hall. Around two thirds of those who expressed an interest at that event were from Belfast, with interest generated equally from the North/West and South/East of the city. Other people travelled in from as far afield as Aughnacloy and Castlederg. In addition, as part of Belfast City Council’s community access campaign, two employment programmes, specifically tailored to Titanic Belfast, will provide 36 candidates with a recognised qualification and a guaranteed interview.

Belfast Mayor, Niall Ó Donnghaile, said: “The level of interest from people keen to work for such an iconic project as Titanic Belfast has been staggering. Belfast City Council and the Department for Employment and Learning have been working very closely with local training organisations, jobs and benefit offices and job assist centres to ensure information about these jobs reach right across our local communities.

“Pre-employment programmes, funded by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) and Belfast City Council (BCC) have been put in place to ensure local people are job ready in time for the recruitment campaign. In providing these programmes we are ensuring that potential employees are aware of the level of skills required and are suitably equipped with the right level of skills for the jobs. To facilitate this, a Titanic Quarter information page has been set up on both the BCC and DEL websites.

“Belfast City Council and the Department for Employment and Learning are delighted to be at the forefront of this recruitment campaign and to be working so closely with Titanic Belfast on this iconic project. Ensuring the provision of training and employment opportunities for disadvantaged communities right across the city must continue to be the cornerstone of our development of Titanic Quarter. Improving the standard of life for people in Belfast is our priority.”

Cathy McCorry, Managing Director, Grafton Employment Group, Ireland, said: “Grafton Recruitment is thrilled to be working with Titanic Belfast to secure candidates for this eye-catching project. There are a wide variety of roles available and all employees at Titanic Belfast will be charged with ensuring that everyone visiting the attraction enjoys a friendly and knowledgeable experience.

“With an increasingly competitive job market, these auditions are a unique procedure as part of the overall recruitment process of Titanic Belfast to suit a growing candidate pool. This is a great opportunity for anyone who has a keen interest in the Titanic story and the history of Belfast, so if you are interested in working with Titanic Belfast, please contact us.”

Among those Titanic Belfast has already recruited include a marine biologist to manage the attraction’s Ocean Exploration Centre, which will include live footage of underwater explorations by Dr. Robert Ballard, the oceanographer who discovered Titanic. Titanic Belfast will also recruit maintenance, ticketing, retail, finance, catering and event staff.

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board said: “Following the phenomenal success of the MTV awards late last year the tourism industry is keenly awaiting the next big event, the opening of Titanic Belfast in the spring. This new attraction is set to give another massive boost to tourism and to Northern Ireland’s reputation around the world. Job creation and economic regeneration are at the heart of the tourism strategy for Northern Ireland, and NITB welcomes this latest recruitment initiative by Titanic Belfast and its partners, designed to ensure we offer the best possible experience to visitors. This is a unique opportunity to work at a state of the art attraction that is set to rival other global, iconic attractions and I wish all candidates, of all ages and interests, every success in finding employment.”

The Audition Day will take place between 10am and 5pm on January 14th, with available positions including full-time, part-time, casual and seasonal. Those wishing to attend must pre-register by calling into Grafton Recruitment between 3rd and 13th January or registering online at www.graftonrecruitment.com which also provides full details of the positions available.

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Titanic Foundation Limited is a registered charity, set up to educate the public on Belfast's industrial and maritime heritage, past, present and future.
Company Registration NI064888.
Registered charity No XT13119.